Citizens optimistic at mayor’s meeting

By Jenny Davis

Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 | midnight

Anyone was invited to sit down, try some pastry samples, sip some tea and talk to Mayor Oscar Goodman Sept. 19 about whatever they wanted during the Ward 4 Coffee with the Mayor event.

Every month, the mayor visits a ward. This time, the line of Las Vegas residents that formed outside the Starbucks Coffee, 2120 Rampart Boulevard, was packed with people who wanted to promote their businesses, pitch their ideas about city improvement or simply take a picture with the self-proclaimed "happiest mayor in the world."

And despite an economic downturn and foreclosure crises, in general, the residents were content and not there to complain.

"This is what I hear all the time," Goodman said, referring to the people who attend the monthly event. "Everything I've heard today has been constructive, not any complaints, just ideas with no negativity. It's a wonderful thing, but I'm not surprised."

Goodman said that because of the number of phone calls and e-mails he receives every day, he can measure how people are feeling in general, and lately he has received positive feedback.

"Everyone is affected by the economy, but the past two days, things are looking up, things are turning around day by day," he said.

Some suggestions Goodman received included one from Walter Skochenko who represented Camino Constructors. The company repairs manholes in sewer systems that start deteriorating.

"If it saves the city money, I want to hear about," Goodman told Skochenko.

For the most part, Goodman referred people to city staff members who know more about specific issues than he does, then he typically added: "Tell them you spoke to me and that I want you two to talk to each other."

He also heard about everything from how street sweepers should have a specific business license for sweeping because they are harming the environment to ideas on how to protect people waiting at bus stops.

In general, the concern for implementing many of the ideas people had was cost, but Goodman had an optimistic outlook. When one resident said he thought the economy would bounce back, Goodman replied that it had to bounce back because "we don't have a choice."

Goodman also talked to many residents about his plans for Las Vegas to continue to grow and become a greater city.

"If you're going to have a great American city, you have to have great arts, great culture, great sports," he said. "Here is one of the only cities in the world where I see cranes building; we're prospering and we're getting past hard times."

Jenny Davis can be reached at 990-8921 or [email protected].